Ugandan import Steven Mukwala bagged a brace as Asante Kotoko smashed bottom club Kotoku Royals 5-1 Sunday night to round off match-day 14 of the 2022/23 betPawa Ghana Premier League (GPL).
The champions were slightly dominant in a lively start to the game at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium with three goals coming by the half-hour mark.
Kotoko grabbed the lead in the 10th minute through midfielder Richmond Lamptey who fired into the roof of the net following a visionary cutback from Cameroonian Georges Mfegue.
Richmond Lamptey with a super strike! @AsanteKotoko_SC 2 : 1 @AkyemRoyalsfc
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— StarTimes Ghana (@startimesghana) January 29, 2023
Mukwala scored his first goal of the night in the 22nd minute by converting a penalty he had won after Royals goalkeeper Ebenezer Akpor Kommey brought him down in the box.
Mukwala beats the Kotoku GK completely to bury his first goal of the night⚡️
Asante Kotoko 3 : 1 Kotoku Royals
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— StarTimes Ghana (@startimesghana) January 29, 2023
The visitors responded by halving the deficit to 2-1 in the 29th minute through Francis Andy Kumi who beat the offside trap before chipping the ball over goalkeeper Frederick Asare. The striker refused to celebrate scoring against his former club.
Brilliant finish from Andy Kumi👏🏾🤩!@AsanteKotoko_SC 3 : 1 @AkyemRoyalsfc
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— StarTimes Ghana (@startimesghana) January 29, 2023
In the 41st minute, the Porcupine Warriors were forced into bringing on new signing Rashid Nortey early for his debut. He replaced Lamptey who had been stretchered off after falling victim to a harsh tackle.
Kotoko scored three more goals in the second half to ensure there would be no surprise result.
Mukwala returned for his brace and 6th league goal in the 61st minute.
Steve Mukwala bags a brace🔥!
Asante Kotoko 5 : 1 Kotoku Royals
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— StarTimes Ghana (@startimesghana) January 29, 2023
Nine minutes from time, Ivorian playmaker Serge Eric Zeze added the fourth.
An easy finish for Eric Zeze!@AsanteKotoko_SC 5 : 1 @AkyemRoyalsfc
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— StarTimes Ghana (@startimesghana) January 29, 2023
And in the 4th minute of stoppage time, Solomon Sarfo Taylor scored to make it 5-1 just three minutes after coming off the bench. It is only his second league goal since joining in March 2021.
Sarfo Taylor laid the icing on the cake for Kotoko! @AsanteKotoko_SC 5 : 1 @AkyemRoyalsfc
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— StarTimes Ghana (@startimesghana) January 29, 2023
The emphatic victory lifts Asante Kotoko, now on 24 points, above arch-rivals Hearts of Oak into second place thanks to a superior goals advantage. The result also reduced Aduana FC’s lead at the top of the standings to one point. Kotoku Royals are in last place with 7 points from 14 games.
Two-goal hero Steven Mukwala received the man-of-the-match award.
